Approach

The Cell Therapy Catapult (CTC) is part of a series of similar 'Catapults' set up by the government to link cutting edge developments in academia and research with manufacturing and industry. BMJ Architects' refurbishment of the 12th floor office areas within Guy's Tower, included the interior design and space planning to better suit the method of CTC's working and organisational ethos. The Catpult is ideally situated amongst the considerable number of similar world-class research institutions within the tower and on the hospital campus itself.

One of the key design aspects of the project is the viewing area between the laboratories and office space whose design encourages interaction and collaboration of clinical and office personnel. BMJ worked closely with turn-key specialists to mesh both office and laboratory designs into one overall, flexible, cohesive and imaginative working environment.

The 1200m2 facility includes laboratories designed to mimic manufacturing suites, enabling the progress of cell therapies from the laboratory to commercial scale by adopting the pilot process development expertise at the CTC. The facility aims to develop a cell therapy process from theoretical beginnings through to implementation in medical treatment.